Sorter with rotatable trays supported on guide members

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a sorting apparatus equipped with a stapler in which a plurality of plate-shaped bins for stacking sheets thereon are attached in tandem at regular intervals to a fixed shaft so that each of said bins rotates around the shaft between a sorting position to stack sheets and a stapling position to provide the stacked sheet to the stapler.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sorter which is provided to an imageforming apparatus such as a copier and printer to sort sheets dischargedfrom the apparatus, and more particularly relates to a sorter having aplurality of bins, and the sorter is provided with a stapling device tostaple the sheets in the bin.

For a sheet processing device provided with a stapling device to staplesheets discharged from a copier, printer and the like, a sheet finisherhas been utilized which is installed together with an automaticrecirculating document handler in order to staple the sheets. However,the aforementioned sheet finisher is disadvantageous because thestructure is so complicated and expensive.

(1) In Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection no.43457/1989, there has been disclosed an apparatus in which a staplingdevice is provided to a relatively simple bin-moving type of sorter. Inthe aforementioned apparatus, a stapling device to staple sheetsdischarged into a bin can be freely moved with regard to the bin.

(2) Another sorter is composed in such a manner that: a fixed type ofstapling device is provided to each bin; and the bin is moved to thestapling position so that a bundle of sheets can be stapled.

(3) A sorter disclosed in the official gazette of Japanese PatentPublication Open to Public Inspection No. 244869/1987, includes: a binhaving sheets is moved to a position where a stapling operation can beconducted; the sheets are stapled by a stapling device; and when thesheets in other bins are stapled, the stapling device is moved in avertical direction.

In the aforementioned sorter of case (1) having a stapling device whichcan be moved freely, the moving stroke of the stapling device changesaccording to sheet size. Accordingly, when the vertical spacing of eachbin is wide, the sorter size becomes large as a whole, and when thevertical spacing of a bin into which the stapling device is inserted, isextended, the mechanism becomes complicated. Further, this sorter iscomposed in such a manner that: a closed loop type of large slotted holeis formed in the bin; and a common alignment member is inserted into theaforementioned slotted hole so that the alignment member can bereciprocated. In this case, however, it takes time to assemble, overhauland adjust the sorter because it is necessary to insert theaforementioned alignment member into the slotted hole after a pluralityof bins have been assembled and further it is necessary to connect thealignment member with the upper and lower arms. Furthermore, in the caseof a sorter in which sheets of different sizes are stacked in a bin asthe center of the sheet agrees with the center of the bin, in which thebin is moved to a stapling position, the aforementioned slotted holemust be made large, so that this type of sorter is disadvantageous inthat the size of the bin is extended.

In the aforementioned sorter of case (2), the structure of the sorter iscomplicated as a whole, and in the case where the vertical spacing ofthe bin is small, a special stapling device is required.

In the aforementioned sorter of case (3), each bin in which sheets areput, is moved straight along a bin guide at an appropriate time.Accordingly, it is disadvantageous in that the structure becomescomplicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a sorterhaving a simple stapler device, having a reliable working. The sorterhaving a stapler according to the present invention, provided with aplurality of bins which receive and sort the sheets conveyed from animage forming apparatus, and provided with a stapler which staples thesheets stacked in the aforementioned bins, comprises: a fixed shaftvertically provided in the sorter body; a plurality of holding memberswhich are mounted onto the fixed shaft at regular intervals; and aplurality of bins which are supported in such a manner that theplurality of bins are inclined with regard to the fixed shaft and theaforementioned holding members, and which can be rotated to a staplingposition keeping them inclined condition.

In the sorter having a stapler according to the present invention, theaforementioned holding members are detachably inserted into U-shapedslots provided at one end of the aforementioned bins, and positionedwith a closing member not to be loosened.

Further, in the sorter having a stapler according to the presentinvention, the aforementioned holding members are integrally formed andlongitudinally arranged along the aforementioned fixed shaft, and arelocked so as not to be rotated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing the structure of a sorter connected with theimage forming apparatus body;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing the member composing thebranch passage of papers, and the upper bin of the sorter;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of a bin;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bin and relating members;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the bin and the slide member;

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of an alignment device;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the alignment device;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a bin oscillating device;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the process of oscillation of varioussizes of papers which are set in such a manner that the sides of thepapers are set along the center of the apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing straight movement of a bin;

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the oscillation process of the bin;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a bin oscillation device;

FIG. 13 is a front sectional view of the bin oscillation device;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on line A-O-A of the bin oscillatingdevice;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the lower mechanism of the bin oscillatingdevice;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on line B-O-B of the bin oscillatingdevice;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken on line C--C of the bin oscillatingdevice;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the bin oscillating device which is in astapling position;

FIG. 19 is a plan view and a sectional view taken on line A-B-C-D of thebin oscillating device according to the second example;

FIG. 20 is a plan view and a front sectional view showing the relativerelation between the first and the second arm;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of the bin oscillating device at the start of armoscillation;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the bin oscillating device at the end of armoscillation;

FIG. 23 is a plan view of the bin oscillating device in the thirdexample;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the bin oscillating device;

FIG. 25 is a plan view of the drive system of the bin oscillatingdevice;

FIG. 26 is a plan view showing oscillating progress of the arm of thebin oscillating device; and

FIG. 27 is a plan view showing oscillating progress of the arm and bin.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the present inventionwill be explained as follows.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the structure of a sorter which is connectedwith a main body 1 of an image forming apparatus (for example, acopier). The sorter of the present invention comprises a base frame 10,downward conveyance section 20, upward conveyance section 30, and binshift section 40.

The base frame 10 includes casters 11, connecting means 12 to connectthe base frame 10 with an image forming unit, conveyance belt 13, idlerollers 14, guide plates 15, and drive means (not shown in the drawing).

A stay member 16 is fixed to the base frame (the horizontal conveyancesection) 10 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of FIG. 1. Arack gear RG is fixed to the upper side of the stay member 16.

Rollers 17A, 17B for moving the frame are pivotally provided in theframe of bin moving section 40 which will be described later. Therollers 17A, 17B move along a rail (not shown) of the aforementionedbase frame 10, so that the frame of the bin moving section 40 can bemoved in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the drawing.

A drive motor M1 is provided in the frame of the aforementioned binmoving section 40 so that a pinion gear PG can be driven through gearsG1 and G2. Since pinion gear PG is engaged with rack gear RG fixed tothe aforementioned stay member 16, the frame of the bin moving section40 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the drawingwhen motor Ml is rotated. Numeral 18 is a roller provided coaxially withthe aforementioned pinion gear PG, wherein the roller 18 can be rotatedfreely.

The downward conveyance section 20 is connected with paper dischargingrollers 2 and a discharging port 3 of the image forming apparatus 1. Thedownward conveyance section 20 is composed of a guide plate 21 toreceive a discharged sheet P so that it can be conveyed downward, aconveyance belt 22 and idle rollers 23 to convey sheet P to theconveyance belt 13 in the aforementioned base frame 10, and the like.Another conveyance means 24 and tray 25 are branched from the conveyancepassage, which are utilized for discharging a preceding sheet in theimage forming apparatus 1 when a jam has occurred in the ADF or thesorter. The upper portion of the frame corresponding to theaforementioned downward conveyance section 20 is freely opened andclosed so that a jammed paper in the downward conveyance section 20 canbe removed.

In the upper conveyance section 30, several endless conveyance belts 31are provided between pulleys 32 and 33 which are rotatably mounted onthe upper and lower portion of the support frame. A plurality of rollers34 corresponding to the insert ports of the bins are provided inside theconveyance belt 31 in such a manner that the rollers 34 are rotatablycontacted with the conveyance belt 31. A plurality of conveyance rollers35 are provided outside the conveyance belt 31 correspondingly to therollers 34 in such a manner that the conveyance rollers 35 are rotatablycontacted with the conveyance belt 31.

Branch guides 36 are disposed between the conveyance rollers 35 at theentrances of the bins. These branch guides 36 are rotatably supported byshafts 37 which are provided to the aforementioned support frame, andswitched by levers and solenoids provided at the ends of the shafts 37,wherein the levers and solenoids are not illustrated in the drawing.Accordingly, when a branch guide 36 is rotated clockwise, the lower edgeclaw portion of the branch guide 36 crosses the paper conveyance passagecomposed of the conveyance belt 31 and the conveyance rollers 35 so thatthe paper can not be conveyed upward. In this way, the branch guide 36works for sending papers into the bin. When a paper P is conveyed underthe aforementioned condition, the paper P is curved along the innercurved surface of the branch guide 36 in the direction of a right angle,and the paper P is received by bin 41.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the composing members of theaforementioned branch conveyance passage and the bin. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4show the bin 41 and related parts.

A plurality of bins (for example, 20 bins) are provided to the binmoving section 40 at regular intervals in such a manner that the binscan be turned in the horizontal direction. That is, the bottom portion(the left side of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) of the bin 41 is slidably supportedon a guide plate 48 fixed to the bin moving section 40.

A non-sort bin 49, which is deep, is provided uppermost of theaforementioned plurality of bins 41 (which are 20 bins in FIG. 1). Thenon-sort bin 49 is a bin in which image-recorded papers P not requiredto be sorted are accommodated, and about 100-300 papers can be stackedon the non-sort bin 49.

Numeral 41A in FIG. 2 shows three claws provided on the reverse side ofthe bin 41, wherein the claws are engaged with cut-out portions of theaforementioned guide plate 48. Numeral 41B shows five rear stopperswhich are provided on the paper introducing side on the upper surface ofthe bin 41. The upper end of the vertical surface of the stopper iscurved in such a manner that it forms a claw, so that papers P can beprevented from leaving the bin when the trailing ends of papers P arecurled.

The sheet stacking surface of the bin 41 is composed of: a lowerstacking surface 411 which is connected with a stopper wall 41S to alignthe trailing ends of sheets, and makes a gentle angle (for example,about 10°) with a horizontal surface; an intermediate stacking surface412 which is connected with the lower stacking surface 411 through acurved surface 414, and makes a sharp angle (for example, about 40°)with the horizontal surface; and an upper stacking surface 413 which isconnected with the intermediate stacking surface 412, and makes an angleof α (for example, about 30°) with the horizontal surface.

Stopper surface 41S located in the base portion of the bin 41 makes aright angle with the lower stacking surface 411 so that the alignment ofa sheet bundle can be ensured when a stapling operation is conducted.When the stopper surface 41S is provided vertically and the lowerstacking surface 411 makes a gentle angle with the horizontal surface,deformation of sheet edge can be prevented and alignment of sheets canbe positively carried out when the sheets slide on the inclined surface.

Since the aforementioned intermediate stacking surface 412 is providedforming a sharp angle, paper P discharged onto the bin 41 can bepositively slid downward on the surface by its weight, so that alignmentcan be positively conducted. Due to the foregoing, electrostaticallycharged sheets or curled sheets can be positively slid downward alongthe surface, and stopped right at the stopper surface 41S.

Since inclination angle α of the upper stacking surface 413 is set to bea little smaller than that of the intermediate surface 412, that is, αis set to about 30°, the distance between the bins 41 can be minimizedand the total height of the sorter can be reduced. The upper stackingsurface 413 is a surface on which sheets of a large size (for example,sheets of B4 size, or A3 size) are stacked, and these sheets aresufficiently heavy. Therefore, they are slid downward by their weightdue to the inclination angle α and the sharp inclination angle (about40°) of the intermediate stacking surface 412 so that the sheets can bealigned. The shape of non-sort bin 49 fixed to the sorter body at theuppermost portion of the bin 41, is approximately the same as that ofthe bin 41.

It is necessary to provide the plurality of stopper walls 41S whichalign the trailing ends of papers P in such a manner that papers of allsizes can be contacted with the left end portion of the bin 41. However,in the case of a sorter in which the bin 41 is turned for stapling whilethe distance between the bins 41 is maintained to be minimum, a problemis caused in which an upper end portion of the stopper wall 41S comesinto contact or collides with a bottom portion of the upper bin 41.

In order to avoid the aforementioned interference and collision betweenthe upper and lower bins, a portion of the vertical wall having fivestopper walls 41S of the bin 41 is cut out so that the wall can notinterfere with the lower bin 41.

On the other hand, an auxiliary reference plate 47 is fixed to aposition on a vertical surface 48A of the aforementioned guide plate 48on which the rear bottom surface of the bin 41 is loaded,correspondingly to cut out portion A of the bin 41. The aforementionedreference plate 47 is provided with three stopper walls 47S of the sameshape in order to make up for the stopper wall 41S, a portion of whichhas been cut out. A curved claw 47B is protruded from an upper endportion of the vertical surface of the stopper wall 47S, and the shapeof the claw 47B is the same as that of the aforementioned claw 41B.

Spring 59 is a tension coil spring stretched between an end portion 48Bof a vertical surface 48A of the guide plate 48 fixed to the bin movingsection 40 of the sorter body, and an end portion 41E of the bin 41. Thespring 59 pulls the bin 41 in a bin turning process performed by aturning unit 70 described later, so that the bin 41 can be returned toits initial position, and the bin 41 comes into contact with thevertical surface 48A of the guide plate 48 with pressure. Under thecondition that the bin 41 is pulled by the spring 59 and closelycontacted with the vertical surface 48A of the guide plate 48, thestopper walls 41S and 47S are set on the same surface, and form astopping surface with which the trailing ends of papers collide.

In this case, the shapes and heights of the claws 41B and 47B become thesame. When the bin 41 is turned by the bin turning unit 70, a bundle ofpapers on the bin 41 are moved to a stapling position while the trailingends of the papers are contacted with the stopper wall 41S. However, thestopper wall 47S provided on the auxiliary reference plate 47 fixed tothe guide plate 48, is left in the fixed position. Consequently, whenthe upper bin 41 is turned, the lower stopper wall 47S does notinterfere with the bottom of the upper bin 41.

Paper P which has been conveyed to the upward conveyance section 30 ofthe sorter at high speed, is conveyed in the upward conveyance sectionas follows:

Paper P is conveyed upward being pinched by the conveyance belt 31 andthe conveyance rollers 35. Then, paper P is conveyed to the rightdirection by the action of a branch claw 36 which is switched clockwiseby a solenoid action not shown in the drawing. Paper P passes through anupper opening of the claw 41B of the bin 41 and the claw 47B of theauxiliary reference plate 47, and then ascends upward passing betweenthe curved surface 414 of the bin 41 and the rib 41R of the bottom ofthe upper bin, and between the inclined surface 412 and theaforementioned rib 41R. After the trailing end of paper P has passedthrough the contact point of the belt 31 and the roller 35, paper P isdischarged at its conveyance speed. After the trailing end of paper Phas passed through the upper portion of the stopper walls 41S and 47S,paper P which has been conveyed upward, goes downward by its own weight,and slides back on the inclined surfaces 413, 412, and 413. After that,the trailing end of paper P collides with the stopper walls 41S and 47Sand stops. Successive paper P is conveyed into the bin 41 in the samemanner, and slides back on previous paper P stacked on the bin 41, sothat it can be aligned.

A sliding member (a holding member) 44 is engaged with a vertical fixedshaft 43 which is supported by supporting members 42A, 42B fixed to theframe of the bin moving section 40. The aforementioned sliding member 44is positioned by a pin 45 and a calking member 47.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the bin 41 and the slidingmember 44. The fixed shaft 43 is provided with holes for pins, thenumber of which is the same as that of the bins 41, and also providedwith grooves 43A for the calking members (for example, E rings). Thesliding member 44 is provided with a through hole 44A through which theaforementioned fixed shaft 43 penetrates, a groove 44B with which a pin45 is engaged, and a neck portion 44C by which a U-shaped cut out 41G ofthe bin 41 can be attached and detached. The aforementioned neck portion44C is inclined with regard to the through hole 44A (for example,α=30°).

The sliding member 44 is made of a material having excellent lessabrasion property, for example, resin such as polyacetal. Next, theassembly process of the bin 41 will be explained as follows.

(1) The fixed shaft 43 is inserted into the through holes 44A of theaforementioned plurality of sliding members 44.

(2) The pins 45 are successively inserted into the holes of the fixedshaft 43.

(3) Under the condition that the pin 45 is engaged with the groove 44Aof the sliding member 44, the E ring is press-fitted into the groove 43Aof the fixed shaft 43 located in the bottom portion of the slidingmember 44, so that the sliding member 44 can be positioned in the axialdirection of the fixed shaft 43, and locked by the pin 45 so as not tobe rotated.

(4) The work of the aforementioned process (3) is conducted on all thesliding members 44 so that the sliding members can be positioned andassembled.

(5) Next, the fixed shaft 43 by which the sliding member 44 ispositioned and supported, is assembled to the supporting members 42A,42B, and fixed vertically.

(6) The U-shaped cut out 42G of each bin 41 is inserted to the neckportion 44C of the sliding member 44, and locked by a reinforcementmember 46 fixed to a side of the bin, wherein the reinforcement member46 will be explained later. (FIG. 3B)

(7) In the manner described above, the bin 41 can be freely turnedaround the sliding member 44. A rotatable connection between the neckportion 44C of the sliding member 44 and the U-shaped groove 41G of thebin 41, makes an angle of α (for example, 30°) with a horizontalsurface, so that the each bin 41 is held in parallel each other beinginclined by this angle.

The other side of the bin 41 is supported on a roller 39 which can berotated freely being installed in a portion of the frame of the binmoving section 40. In the manner described above, the bin 41 issupported by the guide plate 48, the sliding member 44 and the roller39, and can be freely rotated around the fixed shaft 43.

In the sorter provided with a stapler, in order to insert papers Pstacked on the bin 41 into the stapler, all the bins are moved forwardand backward in the perpendicular direction to the drawing surface bymotor Ml together with the bin moving section 40 correspondingly withthe size of papers P, and further each bin 41 is individually turned bythe bin turning unit 70 around the fixed shaft 43 as is shown in FIG. 1.

On the other hand, an alignment unit 50 which aligns the side of paper Pdischarged onto the bin 41 from the image forming apparatus, is providedin a portion of the fixed frame of the upward conveyance section 30.

The alignment unit 50 is operated in such a manner that: an upper arm52B and lower arm 52A which can be freely rotated being engaged with avertical rotating shaft 51 rotated by pulse motor M2, support andoscillate an alignment rod 54. An upper end of a core 54A of thealignment rod 54 is held by an aligning bearing 53B provided at the tipportion of the upper arm 52B. A lower end of the core 54A of thealignment rod 54 is engaged with and held by an aligning bearing 53Aprovided at the tip of the lower arm 52A. The lower arm 52A is engagedwith a journal 56A provided in the lower portion of the aforementionedframe, so that it can be rotated. In the same manner, the upper arm 52Bis engaged with a journal 56B so that the upper arm 52B can be rotated.The alignment rod 54 is structured in such a manner that: the peripheralsurface of the core 54A is coated with a resilient member 54B composedof a foam material such as sponge. Accordingly, the alignment rod 54 iscontacted with the side edge of discharged paper P with pressure so thatpaper P can be aligned.

As shown in FIG. 7, an arc-shaped curved portion 57A is protruded from aportion of the aforementioned lower arm 52A, and when an optical path ofa photo-interrupter 57B is interrupted with the portion 57A, the homeposition of the lower arm is detected.

The rotating angle of the aforementioned lower arm 52A can be changedwhen the setting pulse number of the aforementioned pulse motor ischanged so that paper P can be aligned in accordance with the size ofpaper P.

A roller 58 is rotatably engaged with a protruded shaft portion 57Cwhich is protruded from a portion of the aforementioned lower arm 52A.The roller 58 is slidably contacted with a groove cam portion 59A of acam member 59 which is fixed to the aforementioned frame. Accordingly,when the lower arm 52A is rotated around the shaft 51, the roller 58 isalso rotated around the shaft. When the aforementioned rotation isconducted, papers P put on the bin 41 are aligned by the pushing actionof the alignment rod 54 at the side of the paper stack.

The aforementioned alignment rod 54 moves along a locus which is shownby a one-dotted chain line in FIGS. 4 and 10. On the other hand, inorder to insert papers on the bin 41 into a stapling member, the bin 41is also rotated as shown by a one-dotted chain line in FIG. 4. Since thebin 41 is moved forward and backward, a large opening portion 41C isformed in the bin 41 as shown in the drawing so that the alignment rod54 can not interfere with the bin 41. Numeral 46 in FIG. 3B is areinforcing member to reinforce the opening portion 41C of the bin 41 inorder to prevent deformation of the bin 41 caused by the opening portion41C. This reinforcing member 46 is fixed to the side of the bin 41 byscrews, and at the same time closes the U-shaped cut out 41G of the bin41 into which the aforementioned slide member 44 is inserted, in orderto prevent the slide member 44 from coming out.

As shown in FIG. 3, a stopper wall 41D is vertically provided on oneside of the bin 41. A plurality of protrusions 41DA are formed on theinner side surface of the stopper wall 41D. This inner side surface 41DAis a surface with which the side edge of paper P collides so that paperP can be aligned.

A paper pressing mechanism 60 is provided on an outer side surface 41DBof the stopper wall 41D. A lever 61 is supported by a pivot 62 mountedon the outer side surface 41DB of the stopper wall 41D in such a mannerthat the lever 61 can be freely turned. Numeral 41E is a guide portionto slidably guide the lever 61. A long and slender shaft is mounted onthe tip of the lever 61, and a pipe-shaped member 63 is provided aroundthe shaft with play. The other end of the aforementioned lever 61 isresiliently pressed by a leaf spring 65. Another leaf spring 66 issupported and fixed in the manner of a cantilever at the bending portionlocated under a position where the lever 61 is pushed by the spring 65.The leaf spring 66 is pushed by a roller 72 mounted on the tip of thearm 71 of a bin turning device 70 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 8).

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the bin turning device 70 which turns theaforementioned bin 41 and at the same time activates the aforementionedpaper pressing mechanism 60.

The bin turning device 70 is mounted on a base plate 73. The first arm71A is coaxially provided to a rotating shaft 74 which is driven by amotor and reduction gear train not illustrated in the drawing. Thesecond arm 71B having long holes is provided to the first arm 71A insuch a manner that it can be slid in the radial direction being pulledby a spring. A rubber coated roller 72 is mounted on the tip of thesecond arm 71B.

A cam plate 75 is provided to the aforementioned rotating shaft 74, andthe cam plate 75 is composed of a U-shaped groove and an arc portionhaving the same radius.

On the other hand, a follower pin 78 is supported being pulled by aspring, wherein the follower pin 78 penetrates through a long grooveportion of a moving member 77 which slides straight on a guide member 76mounted on a portion of the base plate 73, the aforementioned first arm71A, and the second arm 71B.

A semicircular shut-off plate 75A is integrally provided at the otherend of the aforementioned cam plate 75, so that a photo-interrupter 79is turned on and off.

When the aforementioned first arm 71A is rotated clockwise as shown by abroken line in FIG. 8, the follower shaft 78 moves the groove portion ofthe moving member 77 and at the same time moves the groove of the camplate 75 to the outside. After the follower pin 78 leaves the groove, itslides on the curved surface of the arc portion having an equal radius.Before the aforementioned operation, the shielding plate 75A of the tailportion of the cam plate 75 interrupts the optical path of thephoto-interrupter 79 so that the power source is turned off and therotation of the motor is stopped. Consequently, even when there is someoverrun after the motor has been stopped, the follower shaft 78 movesand stops on the arc portion having the equal radius of the cam plate75, so that the first arm 71A maintains its stop position at apredetermined angle. Accordingly, the bin 41 stops at a predeterminedposition.

The base plate 73 of the aforementioned bin turning device 70 is mountedon the common frame 82 together with the base plate 81 of the staplingdevice. The base plate 73 moves vertically to the frame of theaforementioned bin shift section 40, and stops at each bin position.Then, a bundle of papers stacked on the aforementioned rotatable bin 41being pressed with the aforementioned paper pressing member 63B, entersinto a stapling gap of the stapling device to be stapled.

After the bundle of papers have been stapled, the second arm 71B isturned back so that the bin 41 is returned to the original paperdischarging position being pulled by a spring.

Next, the stapling operation conducted on the bundle of papersdischarged in the bin 41, will be explained as follows.

When the position of a document is determined on the platen glass of thecopier 1, there are two practices, one in which the document is set sothat the center of the document can coincide with the center line of theplaten glass, and the other in which the document is set so that oneside of the document can coincide with one side of the platen glass. Thestapling operation conducted in the latter case will be explained here.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the progress of movement of paper P whenthe aforementioned bin 41 is turned around.

(1) Papers P discharged from the recording apparatus 1 are pressedagainst the side stopper wall 41D by the pushing alignment rod 54 one byone so that the sides of papers P can be aligned along base line BL.

(2) When it is detected that a predetermined number of papers are heldin the bin 41, the second arm 71B of the aforementioned bin rotatingdevice 70 starts turning. The roller 72 mounted on the tip of the secondarm 71B pushes the stopper wall 41F (FIG. 3A) protruded at the sideportion of the bin 41, via the spring 66 used for a buffer. Then, thelever 61 is turned against the force of the leaf spring 65, and thepaper pressing member 63B presses the bundle of papers from the upperside so that the slippage of papers can be prevented.

(3) When the aforementioned second arm is further turned, the bin 41 isturned around the slide member 44 while the papers are pressed in themanner described above, and the bin 41 reaches a position shown by aone-dotted chain line in FIG. 4. Then, the papers stacked on the bin 41reach a position shown by a one-dotted chain line in FIG. 9 and stopped(a staple line SL).

(4) In this position, the leading edge portion of the papers is insertedinto a gap formed in the stapling device 80, and a staple is driven intothe papers.

(5) After the stapling operation has been completed, the arm 71B isdriven back to its initial position, and the bin 41 is returned to theoriginal position by the force of a spring, and at the same time thepaper pressing member 63B is separated from the surface of the bundle ofpapers so that the bundle of papers can be taken out from the bin 41.

(6) After a stapling operation of the uppermost bin 41 has beencompleted, a common frame 82 in which the stapling device 80 and the binrotating device 70 are integrally formed, is lowered by a drive source,and then a bin 41 located below the uppermost bin is turned around and astapling operation is conducted in the same manner. While theaforementioned stapling operation is being conducted, papers are sent ona bin located below the aforementioned bin to be stacked.

The stapling operation conducted in such a manner that the sides ofpapers are aligned along the side stopper wall 41D (base line BL), isdescribed above. Next, the stapling operation in which the center ofpapers coincide with center line CL, will be explained.

The first method is as follows:

Each of the papers discharged from the image recording apparatus 1 ispushed by the aforementioned alignment rod 54 so that the paper can bebumped against the side stopper wall 41D so as to be aligned in aposition shown in FIG. 9. After that, the bin 41 is turned around andthe papers are stapled in the same manner as described before. Althoughthe drive structure of this method is simple, the displacement amount ofpaper on the bin differs according to the paper size. In particular, inthe case of a small-sized paper (for example, B5 size paper), thedisplacement amount on the bin 41 is large, so that alignment may not beconducted properly.

The second method is as follows:

The entire bin movement section 40 including the bins 41 is movedforward in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharging directionso that a bundle of papers can be moved to base line BL. Then the bin 41is turned around in the same manner as described before so that thebundle of papers are stapled.

A stapling operation conducted according to this method is shown inFIGS. 10, and 11. This stapling operation will be explained as follows.

(1) After the size of paper (copy paper) discharged from the copier 1 ismanually set or automatically judged beforehand, the bin moving section40 of the sorter is electrically driven. When the bin moving section 40has come to a predetermined position corresponding to the aforementionedpaper size, the movement of the bin moving section 40 is stopped and thesorter is placed in a waiting condition. When the sorter is located inthis waiting position, the side stopper wall 41D of the bin 41 islocated in a position separated from the side of paper P by l (forexample, about 10 mm).

(2) Under the aforementioned condition, paper P advances from the leftin the drawing into a bin, sent, and along the inclined surface of thebin 41. After that, paper P slips down by its own weight and comes backto contact with the front stopper 41S of the bin 41.

(3) After the movement of paper P has stopped, the alignment rod 54 isworked, and one side of paper P is pushed so that paper P is moved bythe displacement amount l to this side, and the other side of paper P iscontacted with the stopper wall 41D. This displacement amount l is setto almost the same value even in the case in which paper sizes aredifferent (for example, A4 size, B4 size and A3 size).

(4) Then, the bin movement section 40 is electrically driven to thisside, and stopped in a predetermined position common to papers of eachsize. This displacement amount x is determined to a value (for example,87.4 mm) obtained in such a manner that: a value found when the minimumpaper size (for example, B5 size, 257 mm) is subtracted from the maximumpaper size (for example, 17 inches), is divided by 2. In the meantime,the side of a bundle of papers on the bin 41 is pushed by the alignmentrod 54 so as to be moved.

(5) FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the progress of turning of a bin whena stapling operation is conducted. When a stapling signal is inputtedinto the bin movement section 40 which is in a stopped condition, firstthe aforementioned bin turning device 70 is driven, and then the arm 71Bis rotated so that the roller 72 mounted on the tip of the arm pushesone end of the aforementioned paper pressing mechanism 60. The bin 41 isturned around the slide member 44 (the turning angle is about 12°), anda staple 83 is driven as described above.

(6) The stapler 80 which is provided integrally with the bin turningdevice 70, successively ascends or descends, and performs staplingoperation in the second and third bins in the same manner as the firstbin. Each stapling operation is conducted until the number of staplingoperation is compared with the number of copying with regard to eachdocument and both numbers become the same. Then all the operations havebeen completed, the stapler 80 returns to the stapling position of thefirst bin, and is put to a waiting condition.

(7) At the same time, when all bundles of papers have been stapled, thebin moving section 40 returns to a home position and returns to awaiting condition. This home position may be a position where the binmoving section 40 is advanced most or a position where the bin movingsection 40 is withdrawn most.

As described above, according to the present invention, the rotativeshaft which passes through all bins is provided at one end of the sorterbody, and the bin turning device is provided at a working point of theother end so that the bins can be turned and papers can be moved to thestapling position. Consequently, the stapling positions of all bins canbe stabilized, and the stapler can be positioned with regard to papersby a simple operation. Accordingly, a bundle of papers can be accuratelyand properly stapled.

Next, a specific embodiment of a bin turning device will be described inwhich locking caused when a bin is rotated can be prevented, the bin canbe smoothly rotated, and the bin can be rotated with a low torque,wherein the structure of the bin turning device is simple and theoperation is conducted positively.

The bin turning device according to the present invention comprises anarm means, and the arm means has a double arm structure composed of thefirst arm member which is rotated by a cam means driven by a drivesource of the bin turning device, and the second arm member which isheld so that it can be relatively moved in the direction of the radiusof gyration of the first arm member, wherein the aforementioned bin ismoved when the arm is rotated.

The bin turning device of the present invention comprises an arm meanswhich rotates the aforementioned plurality of bins individually, and theaforementioned arm means includes the first arm member which is rotatedby a cam means driven by a drive source of the aforementioned binturning device, and the second arm member which is rotatably supportedaround a rotating shaft provided at one end of the aforementioned firstarm member, being pulled by a spring, and the aforementioned bin ismoved when the arm is rotated.

A roller which is rotatably provided at the tip of the aforementionedsecond arm member, comes into contact with a stopping surface of theaforementioned bin, and the bin is moved when the second arm is rotated.

The aforementioned second arm member is held by the first arm memberbeing pulled in the radial direction by a spring, and when an overloadis given to the second arm during the turning of the bin, the second armmember is withdrawn so that the overload can be absorbed by a springaction.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a unit into which a bin turning device 70 torotate the bin 41 and actuate the aforementioned paper pressingmechanism 60, and an electrically-driven stapler 80, are assembled. FIG.13 is a front sectional view of the bin turning device 70, and FIG. 14is a sectional view taken on line A-O-A.

The bin turning device 70 is mounted on a base plate 73. Reversiblemotor M3 fixed to the base plate 73 rotates clockwise sector shaped gearG8 and a rotating shaft 74 integrated with gear G8, through atransmission system composed of worm gear G5 and intermediate gears G6,G7. A sector shaped shielding section (an actuator) G8A is integrallyformed with the sector shaped gear G8, and passes throughphoto-interrupters PS1, PS2 so that the photo-interrupters can causeturn on and off action.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a mechanism of the lower portion of thebin turning device 70. FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on line B-O-Bof the bin turning device 70 in FIG. 12. FIG. 17 is a sectional viewtaken on line C--C.

A cam plate (a cam member) 75 is fixed to the aforementioned rotatingshaft 74. The cam plate 75 is composed of a slot 75A and an arcuateportion 75B of an equal radius. The first arm 71A is rotatably providedon the same shaft as that of the rotating shaft 74. The second arm 71Bhaving a slotted hole is provided to the first arm 71A in such a mannerthat the second arm 71B can be freely slid in a radial direction beingpulled by a tension spring 79A. A roller 72 including a fixing pin 72A,a rotatable ring 72B and a rubber coating 72C coated on the peripheralsurface of the ring 72B, is rotatably provided at the tip of the secondarm 71B.

A follower shaft 78 mounted on a moving member 77 which can be slidalong a guide member 76 provided on the base plate 73, resisting theforce of a tension spring, penetrates through a slot of the cam plate75, a long groove of the first arm 71A, and a long groove of the secondarm 71B, wherein the follower shaft 78 is pulled by a spring.

When motor M3 rotates, the cam plate 75 integrally formed with therotating shaft 74 is rotated, and a side wall of the groove 75A of thecam plate 75 moves the follower shaft 78 along the guide member 76together with the moving member 77. At the same time, the follower shaft78 rotates the first arm 71A clockwise as shown by a broken line in FIG.6. Accordingly, the follower shaft 78 moves the moving member 77straight, and moves the groove 75A of the cam plate 75 outwardly so thatthe first arm 71A can be turned. After leaving the groove 75A, thefollower shaft 78 slides on a curved surface of the arcuate portion 75Bof which the radius is equal. Previously to the aforementionedoperation, shielding portion G8A of sector shaped gear G8 intercepts anoptical path of photo-interrupter PS2, so that the power supply is cutoff and motor M3 is stopped. Consequently, even when motor M3 overrunsafter it has been stopped, the follower shaft 78 stops while it moves onthe arcuate portion 75B of equal radius of the cam plate 75, so that thefirst arm 71A and the second arm 71B maintain their stop positions of apredetermined angle. Consequently, the bin 41 stops at a predeterminedposition.

The arms 71A, 71B constitute a double structure, being extended by theforce of a tension spring 79A. When the arms 71A, 71B arrive at aposition (a position close to point L in FIG. 12) where a locus of thestopping surface of the bin 41 crosses with a locus of the roller 72 ina bin rotating operation, an overload is given to the roller 72.However, the second arm 71B, which can be moved, is relatively movedwith regard to the first arm 71A which is rotated at a fixed position,so that the aforementioned overload can be absorbed by the action of thetension spring 79A. Accordingly, the roller 72 rotates smoothly whilebeing contacted with the contact portion 41E of the bin 41 withpressure, and the bin 41 is turned around the fixed shaft 43.

FIG. 18 shows final positions of the arms 71A, 71B in an advancingstroke. A staple is driven when the bin 41 is at this final position.

The second embodiment of the bin turning device according to the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 19 to FIG. 22. FIG. 19(A) is a planview of a bin turning device 700, and FIG. 19(B) is a sectional viewtaken on line A-B-C-D in FIG. 19(A).

Motor M4, an intermediate shaft 702, shaft 703, and photo-interrupterPS3 are fixed on a base plate (a frame) of a bin turning device. A driveshaft 705 is rotatably provided to bearings 704 which are installed inthe upper and intermediate portions of the frame 701. Worm gear G10fixed to a main shaft of DC motor M4 rotates gear G12 fixed to a driveshaft 705 in an arrow direction shown in the drawing, throughintermediate gears G11A, G11B rotatably provided to the intermediateshaft 702.

A sector shaped shielding member 706 is fixed to an intermediate portionof the drive shaft 705, and a cam member 707 is fixed to a lower end ofthe drive shaft 705. A cam protrusion 707A is integrally formed on alower side of the cam member 707.

FIG. 20(A) is a plan view showing a partial assembling state of thefirst and second arms 708, 710, and FIG. 20(B) is a front sectional viewof the first and second arms 708, 710.

The first arm 708 is fixed to the shaft 703 provided to a lower portionof the base plate 701, and pushed by a torsion spring 709. A boss 708Aprotruded from a left end portion of the first arm 708, is rotatablyengaged with a hole formed in the middle portion of the second arm 710.Therefore, the second arm 710 can be rotated around the boss 708A withregard to the first arm 708.

A fixed pin 72A is fixed to the left end of the second arm 710, and aroller 72 composed of a rotatable ring 72B covered with a rubber ring72C is rotatably provided to the fixed pin 72A.

A right end portion of the second arm 710 has a sector shaped portion asshown in FIG. 20, and a slot 710A is formed in the right end portion.Accordingly, the slot 710A serves as a clearance slot so that the secondarm 710 can not come into contact with the aforementioned shaft 703 whenbeing rotated. Cut-out portions 708B, 710B are formed in the middleportions of the first and second arms 708, 710, and a torsion spring 709or 711 is provided in these cut-out portions so that the arms can beexpanded.

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing a shape of the bin turning device 700when its operation is started. In this state, the first arm 708supported by the shaft 703 is pushed by a torsion spring 709counterclockwise, and stopped by a stopper pin 712. The second arm 710pivotally supported by the boss 708A of the first arm 708 is pushed bythe torsion spring 711 counterclockwise, and stopped when contacted withan end portion of the slot 710A.

When motor M starts in the state mentioned above, the drive shaft 705and the cam member 707 are rotated normally through the aforementionedgear transmitting system G10, G11A, G11B, and G12. Then, a tip 707B ofthe cam protrusion 707A pushes a side wall of the arm 708, and rotatesthe first arm 708 clockwise as in the drawing (FIG. 21, 22). At the sametime, the second arm 710 which is connected with the first arm 708 beingexpended by the torsion spring 711, is also rotated clockwise. Theroller 72 mounted on the tip of the second arm pushes a stopping surfaceof the bin 41, and moves the bin 41 to a stapling position as describedin the first embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a state in which the bin turning device700 has completed its rotation. When the first and second arms 708, 710have completed their rotating motion, a shielding member 706 composedintegrally with the aforementioned drive shaft 705 intercepts an opticalpath of photo-interrupter PS3, and motor M4 is stopped by its detectionsignal. However, the drive shaft 705 continues rotation for a while, andthen stops. During the coasting rotation of the drive shaft 705, anequal radius arcuate portion 707C of the cam protrusion 707A of the cammember 707 pushes a side wall of the first arm 708. When the equalradius arcuate portion 707C is slidably rotated in the aforementionedmanner, the rotation of the first arm 708 around the shaft 703 isstopped, so that the turning of the bin 41 by the roller 72 mounted onthe tip of the second arm 710 is stopped. In the aforementioned bin stopposition, a staple is driven into a bundle of papers on the bin 41 bythe stapler 80.

The arms 708, 710 have a double structure, being pushed by the force ofa torsion spring 711 so that the arms can be formed into one body. Whenthe arms 708, 710 arrive at a position (a position close to point L inFIG. 12) where a locus of the stopping surface of the bin 41 crosseswith a locus of the roller 72 in a bin rotating operation, an overloadis given to the roller 72. However, the second arm 710, which can bemoved, is forced to rotate around the boss 708A of the first arm 708 sothat the torsion spring 711 absorbs the aforementioned load (a brokenline position in FIG. 20(A)). Accordingly, the roller 72 is smoothlyrotated while being contacted with the contact portion 41E of the bin 41with pressure, and the bin 41 is turned around the fixed shaft 43 to thefinal position passing through point L.

After the stapler has been driven at the finaly turned position of thebin 41, motor M4 rotates reversely by the detection signal, and returnsthe arms 708, 710 to their initial positions in cooperation with thetorsion springs 709, 711.

In the aforementioned first and second embodiments, the second armmembers 71B, 710 have a double structure, being extended with regard tothe rotating first arm members 71A, 708 which are driven, or beingfreely bent. The second arm members 71B, 710 are rotated in such amanner that they come into contact with the stopping surface 41E andfollow it when the bin 41 is rotated, while the second arm members 71B,710 are extended or bent.

When the locus of the bin 41 crosses with the locus of the second armmembers 71B, 710, the second arm members 71B, 710 are displaced withregard to the first arm members 71A, 708, so that locking of rotationdoes not occur. However, the reaction force caused when the second armmembers 71B, 710 are displaced, resisting a spring force, is given tothe stopping surface 41E of the bin 41. Therefore, there is apossibility that the bin 41, the second arm members 71B, 710, the firstarm members 71A, 708, and the stopping surface 41E of the bin 41 aredeformed, or interference between parts occurs to cause a mechanicalbreakdown. Since the stopping surface 41E of the bin 41 is connectedwith the lever 61 which actuates the paper aligning device 60, papersstacked on the bin 41 can not be aligned properly when the stoppingsurface 41E is deformed.

The third embodiment according to the present invention is to solve theaforementioned problems, and to prevent problems of paper alignment insuch a manner that: the second arm member is moved along a locus whichdoes not interfere with a locus of the bin; deformation of the bin, armmember, and bin stopping surface are prevented.

FIG. 23 is a plan view of a bin turning device 720 of the thirdembodiment in which the aforementioned problems are solved. FIG. 24 is asectional view of the bin turning device 24 taken on line A-B-C-D inFIG. 23. FIG. 25 is a plan view of a drive system of the bin turningdevice 720.

DC motor M5, intermediate shaft 722, and photo-interrupter (not shown)are fixed on a base plate 721 (a frame) of the aforementioned binturning device 720. Worm gear G21 fixed to a main shaft of DC motor M5rotates gear G24 clockwise fixed to a drive shaft 723, through wormwheel G22 and intermediate gear G23 which are rotatably provided to anintermediate shaft 722.

The first arm 724 is fixed to the lower portion of the drive shaft 723which is integrated with the aforementioned gear G24, and pushedcounterclockwise by a torsion spring 725. The second arm 726 is providedon the lower side of the first arm 724 in such a manner that the secondarm 726 can be slid in a radial direction (in a direction of a normalline of the arm). To be more specific, two slots 726A, 726B are formedin the second arm 726, and a lower end portion of the drive shaft 723 isslidably contacted with the slot 726A, located close to the center ofrotation, and a protrusion 724A protruded to a lower side of the firstarm is slidably contacted with the slot 726B. The lowermost portions ofthe drive shaft 723 and the protrusion 724A are screwed to the baseplate through a washer while the second arm 726 is movably supported.

A fixing pin 72A is mounted on the left end of the second arm 726 asshown in FIG. 24, and a roller 72 composed of a rotatable ring 72B and arubber ring 72C coating the peripheral surface of the ring 72B, isrotatably provided to the fixing pin 72A.

A pin 727 is protruded downward from an intermediate portion of thesecond arm 726, and rotatably engaged with a roller 728.

A cam plate 729 is provided in a lower portion of the base plate 721. Acam slot 729A, the shape of which is a reverse S, is formed in the camplate 729 as shown in FIG. 23. As shown in FIG. 23, the cam slot 729Acomprises: an equal radius arcuate cam section (1)-(2), the radialcenter of which is the drive shaft 723; a cam section (2)-(3), the curveof which is formed so that the rotation radius is gently decreased; anda cam section (3)-(4) the curve of which is formed so that the rotationradius is gently increased. A roller 728 provided to the second arm 726is rotatably contacted with the cam slot 729A so that the roller 728 canbe moved along the inner wall surface of the cam slot 729A, and thelocus of the roller 728 is formed in accordance with the curve of thecam slot.

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the bin turning device 720, which shows theturning process of the second arm 726. In this case, the first arm 724and the second arm 726 shown in FIGS. 23, 24, 25 and 26 are illustratedby a solid line in a starting operation, and illustrated by a brokenline in the turning operation.

When the operations of the arms 724, 726 are started by the bin turningdevice 720, the first arm 724 pivotally supported by the drive shaft 703is pushed counterclockwise by the torsion spring 725, and contacted withthe left end of the cam slot 729A so as to be stopped, which is shown by(1) in FIG. 26.

When motor M5 is driven in the aforementioned state, the drive shaft 723is normally rotated through the gear train system including G21, G22,G23, G24, so that the first arm 724 is rotated clockwise. At the sametime, the second arm 726 slidably supported by the first arm 724 isintegrally rotated clockwise, and the roller 72 mounted on the tip ofthe second arm 726 pushes the stopping surface of the bin 41 so that thebin 41 is turned toward a stapling position as described in the firstand second embodiments.

The shape of the curved surface of the cam slot 729A is formed asfollows: portions (1) and (2) shown in FIG. 26 are formed to be an equalradius, the center of which is the drive shaft 723. Consequently, in aprocess in which the second arm 726 is rotated from state (1) to state(2), the first arm 724 and the second arm 726 are rotated around thedrive shaft 723. Accordingly, the roller portion 72 mounted on the tipof the second arm 726 is moved clockwise around the drive shaft 723along an arcuate locus R, the radius of which is equal.

Further, when the first arm 724 is rotated and the second arm 726follows the first arm 724, the roller 728 engaged with the pin 727provided in a predetermined position of the second arm 726 is movedalong the curved portions (2)-(3) of the slot cam 729A. As the roller728 is moved in the aforementioned manner, the second arm 726 formedintegrally with the roller 728 is moved in the radial direction beingrestricted by the drive shaft 723 and the protrusion 724A coming intocontact with the slots 726A, 726B. Accordingly, the radius of rotationis reduced, so that the center of the roller 72 mounted on the tip ofthe second arm 726 deviates from the aforementioned circular locus R andthe roller 72 advances along an approximately straight locus Sillustrated by a one-dotted chain line shown in FIGS. 23 and 26. (2)-(3)

When the first arm 724 is further rotated, the roller 728 is moved alongthe curve represented by (3)-(4) of the cam slot 729A. Accordingly, theroller 72 mounted on the tip of the second arm 726 successively advancesalong an approximately linear locus S. (3)-(4)

The shape of the curve of the cam slot 729A determines the locus of theroller 72. Accordingly, the shape of the curve of the cam slot 729A isdetermined in accordance with the shape and size of the first and secondarms 724 and 726. In the aforementioned embodiment, the locus(2)-(3)-(4) of the roller 72 is set to be approximately linear. However,the cam slot 729A can be designed, selecting an appropriate locus inaccordance with the turning state of the bin 41 contacted with theroller 72.

FIG. 27 is a plan view showing a turning progress of the bin 41 causedby the rotation of the arm 726. When the second arm 726 is rotated, theroller 72 is moved along circular locus R and comes into contact withthe stopping surface 41E of the bin 41. Then, the roller 72 moves to theright along approximately linear locus S, and pushes the stoppingsurface 41E, so that the bin 41 is turned around the fixed shaft 43.When the bin 41 is moved in the aforementioned manner, the stoppingsurface 41E is turned around the fixed shaft 43 along circular arc Q. Onthe other hand, the roller 72 is moved along locus S which isapproximate to the aforementioned circular locus Q being located inparallel. Consequently, the roller 72 rotates the bin 41, being movedalong locus S which is approximate to locus Q, so that locking is notcaused.

As explained above, according to the present invention, in a sorterprovided with a moving bin type stapler, a malfunction such as lockingof the bin turning device and unevenness of bin rotation can be solvedwhen the bin rotating arm is made into a double structure having aspring action. Due to the foregoing, the bin can be smoothly and stablymoved to a stapling position.

The bin turning device can be rotated by a low torque type of motor, sothat electric power can be saved and the cost can be effectivelyreduced.

Further, when the locus of the roller to drive the bin is determined bythe cam mechanism of the bin turning device, made to become approximateto the locus of the bin stopping surface, the locking of the bin turningdevice to the bin can be prevented. The restricting means to restrictthe motion of the arm are provided on the bin turning device side, sothat deformation of the bin and lever, and a malfunction of the paperpressing mechanism relating to the deformation can be prevented.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sorting and stapling apparatus, comprising:aplurality of plate-shaped bins; a plurality of guide members providedfor said plurality of bins so that each of said plurality of bins isrespectively slidable on a respective one of said plurality of guidemembers, between a first position and a second position; each of saidplurality of bins receiving and stacking sheets at said first position;stapling means positioned at said second position of said plurality ofbins for stapling the thus stacked sheets; moving means for respectivelymoving each of said plurality of bins from said first position to saidsecond position; and a plurality of spring members provided for saidplurality of bins, each spring member returning a respective one of saidplurality of bins from said second position to said first position. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vertically fixed shafthaving an axial and whereinsaid plurality of bins are respectivelyrotatably mounted in tandem, at regular intervals, on said verticallyfixed shaft so that each of said bins is respectively rotatable betweensaid first and said second positions.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,further comprising a plurality of slidable holding members mounted intandem at said regular intervals on said vertically fixed shaft, forrotatably holding said bins.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:anedge portion of each of said plurality of bins comprises a cut-outportion in a shape of a U; and each of said plurality of slidableholding members is shaped to be engageable with a respective one of saidU-shaped cut-out portions.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each ofsaid plurality of slidable holding members includes stop means forclosing said respective one of said U-shaped cut-out portions.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 4, wherein said plurality of slidable holding membersholds said plurality of bins at an angle relative to a horizontal plane.7. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a plurality ofsupporting means for respectively rotatably supporting each of saidplurality of bins when said moving means moves said bins from said firstposition to said second position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, whereineach of said plurality of supporting means respectively is in slidablecontact with a bottom portion of a respective one of said plurality ofbins.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of said plurality ofsupporting means includes a cut-out portion on a bottom portion of eachof said plurality of bins; and further comprising:a respective clawmember engageable with said cut-out portion of each of said plurality ofbins.
 10. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising roller means forrespectively supporting each of said plurality of bins such that each ofsaid plurality of bins is respectively supported by said roller meansduring the movement of each of said plurality of bins by the movingmeans from said first position to said second position.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of supportingmeans for respectively supporting each of said plurality of bins suchthat each of said bins is respectively supported by at least onesupporting means in addition to said roller means.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein said moving means includes rotation means, saidrotation means comprising:a plurality of pushing members forrespectively pushing each of said plurality of bins in a direction torotate each of said bins around said shaft from said first position tosaid second position; and said plurality of spring members forrespectively returning each of said plurality of bins from said secondposition to said first position.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, whereineach of said plurality of pushing members comprises:a drive member; afirst rotatable arm member coupled to said drive member, said firstrotatable arm member being mounted to be rotatable around a rotationaxis thereof by said drive member; a second arm member mounted on saidfirst rotatable arm member; and said second arm member being slidablymounted on said first rotatable arm member in a radial direction of saidfirst rotatable arm member.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein saiddrive member includes a cam for rotating said first arm member.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of pushing membersfurther comprises a spring member for biasing said second arm member insaid radial direction of said first rotatable arm member.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein said second arm member includes a rollerdisposed at a tip end portion of said second arm member for contacting arespective one of said bins to be pushed by said pushing member.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of pushing memberscomprises:a drive member; a first rotatable arm member coupled to saiddrive member, said first rotatable arm member being mounted to berotatable around a rotation axis thereof, by said drive member; a secondarm member rotatably mounted at a free end portion of said firstrotatable arm member; and a spring for biasing said second arm member ina rotation direction of said second arm member.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein each of said plurality of pushing members comprises:adrive member; a first rotatable arm member coupled to said drive member,said first rotatable arm member being mounted to be rotatable around arotation axis thereof by said drive member; a second arm member slidablymounted on said first rotatable arm member; a cam follower fixed on saidsecond arm member for sliding said second arm member in a radialdirection of said first rotatable arm member; and a cam having a curvedcam surface for regulating a position of said cam follower.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 18, further comprising:a roller mounted at a tip endportion of said second arm member; said roller contacting a respectiveone of said plurality of bins; and said roller moving along a locusdefined by a movement of a position of said cam follower.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 19, further comprising regulating means forregulating a movement of said roller along the locus, such that thelocus of movement is a substantially straight line.
 21. A sorting andstapling apparatus comprising:a vertically fixed shaft; a plurality ofplate shaped bins for receiving and stacking sheets thereon, saidplurality of bins being rotatably attached in tandem, at regularintervals, to said vertically fixed shaft so that each of said bins isrotatable about said vertically fixed shaft between a first and a secondposition, each of said bins receiving and stacking sheets whenpositioned at said first position; a stapler for stapling the thusstacked sheets, said stapler being positioned at said second position; aplurality of rotation means for respectively rotating each of said binsbetween said first and said second positions; each of said rotationmeans including:a pushing member for respectively pushing a respectiveone of said plurality of bins in a direction to rotate said respectiveone of said plurality of bins around said shaft from said first positionto said second position; and a spring member for returning saidrespective one of said plurality of bins from said second position tosaid first position; and said pushing member including:a drive member; afirst rotatable arm member coupled to said drive member, said firstrotatable arm member being mounted to be rotatable around a rotationaxis thereof by said drive member; a second arm member mounted on saidfirst rotatable arm member; and said second arm member being mountedslidably in a radial direction of said first rotatable arm member. 22.The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second arm member is mounted at afree-end portion of the first rotatable arm member.
 23. The apparatus ofclaim 21 wherein each of said pushing members further includes:means forslidably mounting the second arm member on said first arm member; a camfollower fixed on said second arm member for sliding said second armmember in a radial direction of said first rotatable arm member; and acam having a curved cam surface for regulating a position of said camfollower.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:a rollermounted at a tip end portion of said second arm member; said rollercontacting a respective one of said plurality of bins; and said rollermoving along a locus defined by a movement of a position of said camfollower.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising regulatingmeans for regulating a movement of said roller along the locus, suchthat the locus of movement is a substantially straight line.